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T O P I C R E V I E W

Jake

Hello all,

Just saw a preview copy of the PBS documentary "A Race to the Moon" about the flight of Apollo 8.

This was an advance copy, assembled as a draft for review but it had most of the feel of a finished piece. What a wonderful story...! The finest thing about the film was the rare footage. Seems like we live in a "sound bite" world where the same clips and sound bites are shown over and over again. This film shares a lot of the behind-the-scenes story with NASA footage and new interviews. Apparently it was 10 years in the making and will air on PBS on October 31st. Oh, by the way, did I mention that one of the astronauts who flew that mission was sitting right next to me as we watched it.... a DARN FINE way to watch TV!!!!!

That sounds great Jake! I envy you! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of that myself. So which member of the crew was it?

Ryan

Jake

I've met all the members of the crew, and have worked with Jim Lovell a number of time at the Museum of Flight.... but I know Bill the best. I serve with his wife on a board for the Olympic National Park and support activities through his Heritage Flight Museum. It's a real privilege....http://www.heritageflight.org/admin_&_navigation/frames_main.htm

quote:When my producing partner Mike Hill was doing research for a film on Apollo 11 in the early 90s, he kept hearing the same thing from NASA veterans and others in the space community: "For us, Apollo 8 was the mission. Someone should do a film on that." When I first heard about this film (airing October 31 on PBS) my reaction was the same that Iíve heard countless times in the years since: "Apollo 8, which one was that?"

What I encountered in producing "Race to the Moon" echoed what William Styron wrote about Apollo 8 at the time: "It was a moment that was depthless and inexpressible."

TrueNorth

Reminder: this program airs tonight (Monday).

John

thump

Airing immediately after this program, at 10 pm, is Apollo 1: Tragedy to Triumph on PBS

spacecraft films

This program was one of the best ever done on a particular mission... they really did a nice job telling this story, and paid an excellent amount of attention to the facts and to using appropriate visual material. Nicely done.

Mark

Tom

Fantastic program!The scene of Susan Borman (Cdr Borman's wife) expression, as she's watching the launch on TV, says it all.What an exciting time that was!

Ben

It was very good (as I expected from the renowned American Experience).

Fantastic new footage I had not seen before, such as the reentry from inside the cabin (though that could be any Apollo mission) to press site footage of the launch.

Moonpaws

I enjoyed it as well. I had just got back from our church alternative celebration where I wore my Apollo Eva suit. Here I am laying out on the couch still suited up watching this fantastic documentary.

rocketJoe

I also enjoyed the program. Found it refreshing that the wives at the time of the mission are still the wives today. Taking nothing from the astronauts, these women are heroes in their own right.

I met Jim and Marilyn Lovell a couple of years ago and I remember noticing that she was wearing an Apollo 8 pendant on her necklace. Watching the show last night, I spotted the same unique pendant during the interviews. Very cool!

tegwilym

Nice! A lot of footage that I haven't seen before, and I thought I've seen most of it.

I was interrupted a few times to answer the door and toss candy at children, but I taped it also just in case.

quote:Originally posted by rocketJoe:I also enjoyed the program. Found it refreshing that the wives at the time of the mission are still the wives today. Taking nothing from the astronauts, these women are heroes in their own right.

I think Borman and Lovell are the only two members of Group 2 that are still married to their first (and only) wives. Anders is probably in the minority in Group 3 as well...still being married to his first wife as well. And, if I recall something that Kim Poor stated after one of the recent signings (Borman or Lovell), the crew of Apollo 8 are one of the few groups that still fly their own planes today.

An amazing groups of astronauts from an amazing mission...

[This message has been edited by mjanovec (edited November 06, 2005).]

Gilbert

I enjoyed the show although I was constantly being interrupted by little witches, monsters, and Darth Vaders.